Sam Lai, PhD, has received a $7,500 UNC Junior Faculty Development Award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study the prevalence and properties of preexisting immunity in humans to PEGylated drugs, which could potentially diminishes the efficacy of many PEGylated nanomedicines and therapeutics.
PEGylated therapeutics are obtained by modifying drug molecules with polyethylene glycol, or PEG, which markedly reduces interactions with blood proteins and helps the drugs remain active in the bloodstream for longer. However, animal studies suggest that the immune system can develop antibodies against PEG, which can neutralize the polymer’s stealth properties. Preexisting immunity against PEG may be a consequence of the extensive use of PEG in everyday products such as soap, cosmetics, processed foods, and fertilizer, Lai says.
Lai is an assistant professor in the Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics. He joined the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in Fall 2010.